Safety holder for electrically powered hand grinders

ABSTRACT

A safety holder for electrically powered hand grinders intended to be clamped to either a vertical or horizontal surface to hold the grinder in a fixed position relative thereto, the holder including a flat C-shaped base member terminating in one end in an inverted U-shaped member, the bight portion of the U-shaped member supporting thereon and co-planar therewith a U-shaped bracket adapted to rest the body of the grinder therein and having an L-shaped locking member pivoted at one end to an edge of the bracket for closing the open top end of the bracket to securely hold the grinder in the bracket, the locking member secured to the bracket by a threaded bolt which is threadedly received in the bracket.

United States Patent Grammatico [451 Mar. 18, 1975 [76] Inventor: Stephen A. Grammatico, 112

Fairfield St., New Haven, Conn. 06515 [22] Filed: July 8, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 486,699

[52] US. Cl 51/166 R [51] Int. Cl B24b 41/00 [58] Field of Search 51/166 R, 166; 248/14 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,517,101 11/1924 Borger 248/14 1,562,941 11/1925 Conners 51/166 R 2,772,525 12/1956 Fowler 51/166 FB 2,888,965 6/1959 Phillips 51/166 FB Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-National Patent Service, Inc.

[57] ABSTRACT A safety holder for electrically powered hand grinders intended to be clamped to either a vertical or horizontal surface to hold the grinder in a fixed position relative thereto, the holder including a flat C-shaped base member terminating in one end in an inverted U- shaped member, the bight portion of the U-shaped member supporting thereon and co-planar therewith a U-shaped bracket adapted to rest the body of the grinder therein and having an L-shaped locking member pivoted at one end to an edge of the bracket for closing the open top end of the bracket to securely hold the grinder in the bracket, the locking member secured to the bracket by a threaded bolt which is threadedly received in the bracket.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SAFETY HOLDER FOR ELECTRICALLY POWERED HAND GRINDERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to holding apparatus and more particularly to a novel and improved safety holder for electrically powered hand grinders for securely holding the grinder stationary in a manner clamped to either a vertical or horizontal surface to thus convert the portable hand held grinder to a fixed stationary grinder.

2. Description of the Prior Art A wide variety of electrically powered hand held grinders are used by tradesmen, production workers, homeowners, and the like with such grinders commonly being used for sanding wooden surfaces, smoothing automotive body work, and other such related activities. The rotating nature of the grinders dictatesthat they are relatively unsafe to use and must be used with caution and held securely in the operators hand to avoid any possible injuries to the operator that might otherwise occur should the grinder be allowed to move freely. However, it has been found that most injuries associated with grinders occur from the result of slipping, with the chance of slippage of the grinder from the operators hands increasing as the operator tires due to fatigue, or upon the operators hands perspiring during the use of the grinder thus making it easy for the grinder to work loose from the grip of the operator and slip therefrom.

In view of this danger, prior art devices have been developed for holding grinders of particular manufactured body styles and the like in a stationary manner to permit the use of the rotating grinding stone. However, such holders have not met with widespread acceptance due to their lack of flexibility in usage, their having to be clamped to a particular type of surface for use, or their having to be used with a particular manufacturers grinder having a particular styled body such that the holder is not of a universal design requiring a separate holder for each design of grinder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes the dangers and problems associated with hand held grinders, and recognizing the deficiencies and disadvantages of presently available holders, provides a novel safety holder for electrically powered hand grinders which may be clamped to either a horizontal or vertical surface and which is adapted to securely hold grinders of various housing configurations in a secure fixed manner permitting the utilization of the grinder.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a safety holder for electrically powered hand held grinders.

A further feature of the present invention provides a safety holder for hand held electrically powered grinders adapted to be readily clamped to either a vertical or horizontal surface for securely holding the grinder therein in a secure and useful manner.

Among further features and advantages of the present invention is the provision of a safety holder for electrically powered hand held grinders which is relatively simple in its construction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at a relatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods thus permitting the re- 2 tailing of the holder at a sufficiently low price to encourage its widespread use; one which is possessed of few parts and which therefore is unlikely to get out of order; one which is of a rugged and durable construction and which therefore may be guaranteed by the manufacturer to withstand many years of rough usage; one which is easy to use and reliable and efficient in operation; one which is of a universal construction adapted to hold grinders of various manufacturers having various housing configurations; and one which is otherwise well adapted to perform the services required of it.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like partsthroughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofthe holder of the present invention clamped in a horizontal position and supporting a hand held grinder therein;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the holder;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary frontelevational view of a portion of the holder; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along Line 44 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail there is illustrated a preferred form of a safety holder for electrically powered hand held grinders constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally in its entirety by the reference numeral l0 and which is comprised of a C-shaped base 11 terminating at one end in an inverted U-shaped portion 12 supporting atop the same a U-shaped bracket 14 having associated therewith an L-shaped locking plate 15.

The C-shaped base 11 and inverted U-shaped portion 12 are preferably formed of a single length of flat stock material with the C-shaped base having legs 21 and 22 connected by bridging portion 23. The leg 22 is longer than the leg 21 and is bent in first an upward direction to form portion 24, is then bent in a forward direction to form portion 25, and is then bent in a downward di- I rection to form portion 26 which is parallel and spaced from portion 24.

The U-shaped bracket 14 includes vertical side walls 31 and 32 which extend parallel to portions 24 and 26, and an interconnecting base portion 33 which overlies portion 25 or alternatively, may be formed integrally with and as a component integral part of portion 25.

The L-shaped locking plate 15 includes leg portion 41 and arm portion 42, both of which are formed of the same sheet of material which is bent at a ninety degree angle to form the respective portions. The terminal end of leg portion 41 is connected by hinge pin 43 to the top edge of U-shaped bracket side wall 31 such that the L-shaped locking plate 15 is pivotable in the plane defined by bracket 15 between an operative position where leg portion 41 extends between side walls 31 and 32 with arm portion 42 overlying and being in juxtaposition with the exterior surface of side wall 32, and an inoperative position separate from side wall 32 such as seen in FIG. 2.

A cylindrical open ended collar member 51 is affixed to the exterior surface of arm portion 42 and projects outwardly therefrom normal thereto and is aligned with aperture 52 extending through the arm, the interior surface of the collar 51 being threaded to threadedly receive therein the threaded shank 53 of bolt 54 having a flattened enlarged head portion 55 adapted to be easily gripped between the fingers of an individuals hand to effect the rotation of the bolt 54 in either direction about its longitudinal axis.

An aperture 56 is provided in side wall 32 in a position in alignment with bolt 54 when arm 42 overlies the side wall 32 in order to permit shank 53 to pass through opening 56 to engage the housing 60 of a hand held electrically operated grinder 61 in the U-shaped bracket 14 in a permanent and secure manner.

To assist in the holding of a grinder 61 in bracket 14 as locked by L-shaped locking plate 15, the interior surfaces of side walls 31, base portion 33, leg portion 41, and arm portion 42 are each provided with a sheet of resilient rubber or neoprene material 71 which extends substantially completely thereover and is secured to the adjacent surfaces of the bracket and locking plate by utilization of a suitable bonding adhesive 72 supplied on the back surface of the resilient material.

As previously mentioned, the holder is intended for use on either vertical or horizontal surfaces, and for purposes of illustration is shown in FIG. 1 as used on horizontal work table surface 81 and secured thereto by a conventional C-shaped clamp 82 which secures the C-shaped base 11 in juxtaposition on the top surface of the work bench with the U-shaped bracket 14 spaced upwardly from the work bench or, alternatively, at any other position relative to the work bench such as projecting off an end of the work bench, projecting into a selected work area, and the like.

The L-shaped locking plate is pivoted to its position opening U-shaped bracket 14, the housing 60 of a grinder 61 is rested in the bracket 14, and the locking plate 15 is then swung about its pivot pin to cooperate with the bracket 14 and clamp the grinder housing 61 therein. The shank 53 is aligned with the aperture 56 and then rotated about its axis until the terminal end of the bolt entends through the aperture 56 and compressably engages with a portion of the grinder housing 61 thus securely retaining the grinder in a fixed safe position for use while yet permitting the easy and rapid removal of the grinder from the holder when necessary for hand held operation of the grinder.

There is thus provided a novel safety holder for electrically powered hand held grinders permitting for the rapid mounting ofthe grinder for use in a fixed manner, and permitting for the rapid removal of the mounted grinder for use in a hand held manner thus encouraging a worker to utilize the safety holder whenever possible and thus minimize the chance for accidental job associated injuries resulting from electrically powered hand held grinders.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention',the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention. what is claimed 1. A safety holder device intended for use with electrically powered hand held grinders for holding the grinders in a fixed stationary position, the holder comprising:

a C-shaped base member formed of flat stock material;

an inverted U-shaped member joined with one leg of the C-shaped base and extending outwardly therefrom;

a U-shaped bracket joined at its base with the bi ght portion of the inverted U-shaped portion and having side walls projecting normal to the plane of the C-shaped base;

an L-shaped locking plate including an integrally formed leg portion and arm portion, the leg portion being ofa length to overlie the terminal ends of the bracket side walls, the arm portion being of a length to overlie a portion of the exterior surface of one of the side walls;

hinge means connecting the terminal end of the leg portion of the L-shaped locking plate to a terminal edge of one of the bracket side walls providing pivotal movement of the locking plate in the plane of the bracket between a position spaced from the opposite side wall and a position engaging the opposite side wall; and

means for detachably securing the locking plate to the opposite side wall when the leg portion bridges the distance between the side walls and when the arm portion overlies one of the side walls.

2. The holder as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by a sheet of resilient material disposed over the interior surface of both of said bracket side walls, the interior surface of said bracket base portion, the interior surface of said locking plate leg portion, and the interiorsurface of said locking plate arm portion; and an adhesive coating intermediate said sheets of resilient material and said respective interior surfaces permanently securing said resilient 'material to said surfaces.

3. The holder as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by the C-shaped base and the inverted U- shaped portion being formed of an integral length of material, the C-shaped base including a pair of parallel leg members interconnected at one end by a bridging member, the leg member associated with the inverted U-shaped portion being longer than the remaining leg member, the longer leg member being first bent in an upward direction normal to the plane of the leg member, then being bent in a forward direction parallel to the plane of the leg member, and then being bent vertically downward parallel to the plane of the upright bent portion and normal to the plane of the flat leg member.

4. The holder as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by an aperture extending through the locking plate arm portion near the terminal edge thereof; an aperture extending through the bracket side wall which is overlaid by said plate arm portion, the side wall aperture being aligned with the locking plate aperture when the arm portion overlies in juxtaposition the side wall, an open ended hollow cylindrically shaped boss member disposed concentric with the locking plate aperture ported in the U-shaped bracket beneath the locking plate to hold the grinder securely in a fixed position therein. I

5. The holder as set forth in claim 4 wherein the head portion of the bolt is flattened to provide flat gripping surfaces on opposite sides thereof, the gripping surfaces defining a plane through the axis of the bolt and normal to a plane passing through a diameter ofthe cylindrical boss member. 

1. A safety holder device intended for use with electrically powered hand held grinders for holding the grinders in a fixed stationary position, the holder comprising: a C-shaped base member formed of flat stock material; an inverted U-shaped member joined with one leg of the C-shaped base and extending outwardly therefrom; a U-shaped bracket joined at its base with the bight portion of the inverted U-shaped portion and having side walls projecting normal to the plane of the C-shaped base; an L-shaped locking plate including an integrally formed leg portion and arm portion, the leg portion being of a length to overlie the terminal ends of the bracket side walls, the arm portion being of a length to overlie a portion of the exterior surface of one of the side walls; hinge means connecting the terminal end of the leg portion of the L-shaped locking plate to a terminal edge of one of the bracket side walls providing pivotal movement of the locking plate in the plane of the bracket between a position spaced from the opposite side wall and a position engaging the opposite side wall; and means for detachably securing the locking plate to the opposite side wall when the leg portion bridges the distance between the side walls and when the arm portion overlies one of the side walls.
 2. The holder as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by a sheet of resilient material disposed over the interior surface of both of said bracket side walls, the interior surface of said bracket base portion, the interior surface of said locking plate leg portion, and the interior surface of said locking plate arm portion; and an adhesive coating intermediate said sheets of resilient material and said respective interior surfaces permanently securing said resilient material to said surfaces.
 3. The holder as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by the C-shaped base and the inverted U-shaped portion being formed of an integral length of material, the C-shaped base including a pair of parallel leg members interconnected at one end by a bridging member, the leg member associated with the inverted U-shaped portion being longer than the remaining leg member, the longer leg member being first bent in an upward direction normal to the plane of the leg member, then being bent in a forward direction parallel to the plane of the leg member, and then being bent vertically downward parallel to the plane of the upright bent portion and normal to the plane of the flat leg member.
 4. The holder as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by an aperture extending through the locking plate arm portion near the terminal edge thereof; an aperture extending through the bracket side wall which is overlaid by said plate arm portion, the side wall aperture being aligned with the locking plate aperture when the arm portion overlies in juxtaposition the side wall, an open ended hollow cylindrically shaped boss member disposed concentric with the locking plate aperture and extending outwardly from the exterior surface thereof, screw threads defined along the interior of the cylindrical boss, a bolt having a threaded shank portion an enlarged flattened head member, the shank threadedly received in the boss to pass through the arm portion aperture and aligned side wall aperture when the locking plate is in the closed position on the U-shaped bracket to thus secure the locking plate in the closed position with the terminal end of the bolt shank engaging a portion of the housing of a hand held grinder supported in the U-shaped bracket beneath the locking plate to hold the grinder securely in a fixed position therein.
 5. The holder as set forth in claim 4 wherein the head portion of the bolt is flattened to provide flat gripping surfaces on opposite sides thereof, the gripping surfaces defining a plane through the axis of the bolt and normal to a plane passing through a diameter of the cylindrical boss member. 